– Apr 8TEDxCharleston: Visionary Social Entrepreneurs create ripple effects from here and beyond (hey this is just like DoTheCharleston.com sparks Charleston and the world. See our Mission/Purpose for the last 3 years. Our call to action to join us is working!). The pie is growing for all. Business, Science, and ART that’s engaging and transforming.

– Apr 9, from 6 – 7:30 Will Marre Lecture: “Start with Nothing, Save the World, and Make a Fortune.” An exciting lecture at College of Charleston Business School. REVIEW: Will can explain brain science to the common person, woahhh! Use your brain, duh. Ahhhh, but “after” you meditate for 5 min when you wake up, at lunch, and right before you go in a stressful situation. Also, play after work, do the Charleston, walk, yoga, surf, or whatever makes you happy. Eureka, an epiphany, it’s brain science and now you know. So transcend, join all of us, and save the world (make it better – and Charleston, too)! Everyone’s doin it, just sayin.”

– Apr 9-13Dig South – See presentations, interactive events, pitches, and a lot of networking. Plenty of Social Entrepreneurs(they’re everywhere), geniuses(yep), Investors (I hope I get touched by an Angel), 650 companies, and 5000 attendees. The President of College of Charleston hosts Happy Hour (the Bailey’s Irish Cream rises to the top). Like, Comment, and Share Updates on Facebook. (Free passes to Finale at The Alley, 4-6pm. Party & games go till midnight Saturday night.)

REVIEWS: “Dig South, Everyone Should Come!” Join us now at these events (don’t wait for Reviews to see what you missed). I invited a friend, Travis, and bam, he was awe-struck : “after talking to startup Pitchman at @EataBit (Text Restaurant Orders), and social entrepreneur, Debbie Mohr, my mind was racing. I have talk some more, I have to come Friday & Saturday.” See Will Marre’s Review above! DuMore Improv’s session interacted with all attendees to “Tell Their Story” especially in your pitch (15 to 30 seconds or 2 minutes…and…the story’s more memorable & sticks! Frame it (what’s in it for the listener, investor) and call-them-to action. Done. I tried it, and it works!

REVIEWS: “CIFF, Everyone Should Come!” Join us now at these events (don’t wait for Reviews to see what you missed). I invited many friends, and of course received many, “Thanks, we want to come again.” And, of course made new friends…big surprise, not. The Opening Street Party and Red Carpet, and “Draft Day” screening were on a Grand scale.

Films: “Stop Light Observations: Smilers of the Night” This music video created flickering beams of fire in the dark shadows throughout the set. The dark shadows in the characters then locked eyes with us all in the theatre. Bursts of fire made other characters wear shades. Some lit-up their chest and some damsels in distress hung suspended in the light of the moon. The cinematography brought them, the props, and the sets, out of the screen and blended with the cool music to light up the dark theater. The best part of CIFF so far? The Q&A, when LA Director, Lloyd, and Charleston Producer, Gorlitsky answered the question the same way,”nailing the design, so everything after falls in place…because…the collaboration was bonding.” LA + Charleston = world class = 5 Stars. Of course we went to the after party with them till…

Audiences eager for Q&A with Filmmakers. Photo by Timothy Burnham.

Films: “White Shoe” had textured props & sets with crisp yet soothing color spectrums. Lighting hues, camera swoops, and depth of field “looked like” 3-D. It was a 5-star lush story-book musical peek (no words). “The Hero” was apropos with a very young girl’s cute cute yoga indoctrination of her back-woods daddy (that’s our Mission! So of course, 5-star). “Me + Her” was the epitome of out of the box. Literally, go to the dictionary, look up “out of the box film,” and this is the definition. A story (no words needed) that used the international language of visuals and music. See the film? $10. See the whole block (included in the $10). Film steals the genre? More than 5-star…priceless.

2014 Red Carpet

2013 Gala photo copyright Valerie Photography

– Apr 23, Free, RSVP: Special screening, “MisLEAD”, a passionate Documentary Movie with a call-to-action to curb the epidemic poisoning 1 in 3 US children. ADD/ADHD/Autism – wonder why? Test your children and school/home renovations especially with the preservation in Charleston. Charleston Music Hall, 7-10pm, including Q&A after with Director & world leading advocate, Tamara Rubin. She’s a sharp spearhead piercing overwhelming problems to incorporate a myriad of solutions. REVIEW: “An overwhelming film filled with passion from all walks of life: children, parents, teachers, experts, politicians, on and on. So many appalling facts, and yet so little action to help educate, urge, and enforce the prevention and the unfortunate aftermath of lead poisoning. The interactive Q&A kept everyone glued to their seats – thanks to the panel: Director, Tamara Rubin; Special Family Resource Exec Dir Mindy Allen; as well as health care and legal experts, too.” Share it on Facebook.

– Apr 9Will Marre Lecture<– SEE details & Links (Excerpt: “…Start with Nothing, Save the World, and Make a Fortune…”

– Apr 9-13Dig South <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: “…geniuses…touched by an Angel…President…hosts Happy Hour…Cream rises to the top…”

– Apr 9-13 Charleston International Film Fest <– SEE details & Links. (Excerpt: ” 2014 is as exciting as ever. Tune in for REVIEWS (2013 Look Back Full Reviews…Around the world in 5 days…illuminating…Peachers showed us where there’s a world there’s a way…down to earth…more than just Film…a star…” Photo copyright Valerie Photography

– Apr 17, 6-9pm Take Back The Night Gala benefiting People Against Rape. Click picture to zoom in details:

– Apr 22 Happy Earth Day– 1 Billion People around the world come together to make an impact now and further the action started by the first Earth Day in 1970 (when 20 million Americans began modern environmentalism).

– Apr 23Free, RSVP: Special screening, “MisLEAD”, a passionate Documentary Movie with a call-to-action to curb the epidemic poisoning 1 in 3 US children. ADD/ADHD/Autism – wonder why? Test your children, toys, jewelry, make-up, and especially school/home renovations with all the preservation in Charleston. Charleston Music Hall, 7-10pm, including Q&A after with Director & world leading advocate, Tamara Rubin. She’s a spearhead piercing overwhelming problems to incorporate a myriad of solutions. REVIEW: An overwhelming film filled with passion from all walks of life: children, parents, teachers, experts, politicians, on and on. So many appalling facts, and yet so little action to help educate, urge, and enforce the prevention and the unfortunate aftermath of lead poisoning. The interactive Q&A kept everyone glued to their seats – thanks to the panel: Director, Tamara Rubin; Special Family Resource Exec Dir Mindy Allen; as well as health care and legal experts, too.

– Apr 24 – 27 The 2nd Annual Charleston Food Film Festivalshows progressive Short Films (including 3 world premiers) at the same time as serving progressive food and spirits in a lively, engaging, “mind-blowing,” party atmosphere. Both Local and national chefs are serving their specialities.

– Apr 26 from 4 – 11pm JAIL BREAK: Optical Delusions This is the 7th bi-annual super-cool local artisan festival with mixed media, performances (don’t miss DanceFX!, and also Tyler Boone’s new single “Take Aim”), illusions, interactions, and…exotic food trucks. It’s always held at the bizarre Old City Jail (think ghosts, the American College of the Building Arts, and preservation unique to Charleston). REVIEW: As cool as ever, it just gets better, like all the culture in Charleston. Coming to see the Old City Jail, the artisans, and the musicians never gets old (especially DanceFX – get their DVD) – so come & watch again and again.

– Dec 31 New REVIEW:“Greatness!” That’s what I call, last but not least. Dec 31 is the last day to do something, better, to give back in 2013. Easy: join us, we spark hearts; simply click a mouse; Like and Share it; light and fuel it; and let’s set Charleston and the world on fire today, throughout 2014, and on and on. “Greatness,” is the last word, the crescendo, the take away, the “if you remember only one thing remember this: Greatness!” It’s inspiring and rings true today, tomorrow, and on and on. Greatness was the last word emblazoned from the inspirational Philanthropy Week Nov 2013. It was joyously announced by Leonard Lauder, Estée Lauder haute couture Tycoon (thanks to his wife, married 52 years, who fled the Holocaust). That’s what I call, fashion for a cause, for Greatness! He is a steadfast Mogul, better, a proven visionary, collaborator, inspirer, motivator, fundraiser, philanthropist, art preserver, BOD (The Whitney Museum of America), spearhead, and more – that’s what I call a mensch, better, Greatness! Such Great fortune (thanks to Lasley Stever) to get a ticket to the standing-room only nonprofit Gibbes Museum Distinguished Lecture Series, to hear his formula, his wisdom, and to rub elbows with him and others that will lead to Greatness (that’s what I call a photo-op, thanks to Gibbes Executive Director, Angela Mack). He says he’s not an art collector, he doesn’t enjoy owning art for just him. He coins the term, “art preserver,” to pass the baton to nonprofit museums to preserve, for all of us to enjoy. Better, he shares his formula, so we all will be a part of the formula, the process, and the result. We all can be a mensch, better, Greatness! He inspires us all to “share the wealth with others.” From a $250 nonprofit donation, to corporate sponsorships, to his $1billon+ gifts of Picasso and Braque paintings to other nonprofit museums like The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NewYork, MoMA, and the world. Better, this goes on and on. Everyone is inspired to do their part and relish in taking ownership, so we all share in the wealth, the art preservation, Greatness! Past visionaries proved to preserve the past for us to enjoy. Now it’s your turn to toast the New Year and joyously give back and preserve what you love for our kids’ kids to enjoy, and on and on. That’s what I call, parties for a purpose, for Greatness! Better, for our kids to see our example, to party for a purpose (since they aren’t 21, that’s what I call Edutainment, Greatness! Our kids will thrive through edutainment and show their kids to preserve, and on and on). His lecture showed how Greatness has already been proven and how you will follow his formula for Charleston, for Greatness! Voilà! You will bring and preserve Great Art, and you will put the Gibbes Museum on the world map. Now that’s what I call preservation, Greatness! But his formula works for donors and corporate sponsors to spark and preserve all your arts, nonprofits, and edutainment. Join DoTheCharleston.com with your spark and fuel and HiArtFilms will light-up your fire and spread it to Charleston and the World. Charleston is “Conde Nast Travelers” Readers’ pick for Best City In The World. In what way? In every way. Now it’s your turn to put Charleston on the world map in your way, in every way, for us, for Dec 31, 2013, for 2014, and on and on for our kids’ kids, for Greatness!

New Year’s Eve, L’Chaim, To Life! Where to go, where to go. At least you don’t have to fly out of town, all the jet setters are coming here to celebrate with you. If you’ve ever been to Republic Garden & Lounge on King St, well…enough said. If you haven’t been, oye, don’t miss New Years! Hurry, it will sell out. L’Chaim, To Life!

– Dec 13 – Jan 18, “Penelope” at Pure Theatre on King St <- Tickets. A Greek comedy and tragedy about lovely Penelope awaiting her husband, Odysseus (away fighting the last 20 years in the Trojan wars). Beneath her window, she is wooed by 4 men, sans clothes (except speedos)…in a swimming pool, sans water. Let the funny zaniness unfold, Pure Theatre is sure to deliver. (Last spring, Pure produced a striking, moving play, “Clybourne Park.” It had a remarkable ensemble executing diverse double-take roles. They switched the railroad tracks, confused which side to stay on, laid more than a few souls right on the tracks, and then the train came! If you missed it (double darn), then do not miss Pure Theatre’s Season 11.

– Dec 5-21 “Five Lesbians Eating A Quiche,” by What If Productions. The consistency of their plays are consistently fresh, and consistently inconsistent – that’s great to see the envelope pushed in Charleston. That’s the same with Threshold Theater, downtown Society St off King St. Tickets $15-20. REVIEW: “5 Lesbians Eat Quiche Had The Whole Experience” “Walking into the theatre you could tell the director, Kyle Barnette, had the whole experience for the audience planned out. We were festively greeted very nicely outside the door and given name tags and new identities for our short time during the play. Things got better once we walked into the blackbox and were awed by the set design. There were red and green lights, wreaths, a christmas tree, presents, and holly. The only Christmas decoration I could not find was any mistletoe.. which after the play started, we realized wasn’t even needed for the characters to have a bit of fun! Once the characters were introduced, the whole theatre recognized how extremely talented this cast was. The singing was beautiful. The personalities of every character were thought through and exciting. The actors kept us entertained throughout the whole show. The experience of it all was one of the best yet witnessed in Charleston. It had amazing stage blocking, dialect, technical lights and sounds, and above all, a whole lot of humor. The show included great audience participation which made everyone feel included. I left the theatre with a great sense of having well spent my Friday evening out.” – Written by anonymous for DoTheCharleston.com (copyright 2013)

REVIEW: “Fiddler Play, Is A Toast To Life (for all ages): Congratulations, Mazel Tov(“To Life, L’chaim…like Solomon-the-wiseman…if I were a rich man…I’d CROSS a RABBI’S EYYYESSS”). Like the “Fiddler On The Roof”(pulling our heart strings, Darbie Keck); the three sisters(touching our hearts, Andrea Krider, Christina Leidel, & Sarah Callahan); the wife’s love after 25 years(a heart of gold, Pamela Galle); the Red Party’s pauper(a powerful heart, Brendan Kelly); the Russian Soloist(steals your heart, Dru Ryan); and the poor tailor(giving his heart, Robert Culbreth Jr) — we all “deserve some happiness”(some tears of joy); and some tickets(before it sells out). Come see what the multitalented star, Stan Gill(Tevya the tough father & unsung hero) most of all prays for(produces, directs, & acts for). TRADITION (finger pointing to the ONE above). Their peasants’ play “balances on a roof top without breaking their neck; in a little corner of the world”(a closed-minded Russian shtetl); dreaming of the holy land(dreaming of Jerusalem); in an off off far-off Broadway black-box beauty(Threshold Repertory Theatre); in a block near the oldest ongoing Synagogue in the US(since 1749, take a tour); in downtown Charleston(the Paris of the United States)…”Right? Of course right.” Ha ha ha. Don’t just laugh at this review; go laugh at the matchmaker(Kathy Summer); laugh at Lazar Wolf the butcher(Robin Burke); and laugh at Charleston’s surprise Halloween zombies (oops…surprissse). From the made-from scratch Russian costumes(Lana Pasko & GrayMorris); to the kick-up-their-heels hootch(wvodka); to the maestro’s(Inga Agrest) fiddler & live band; to the backbone of the villagers’ ensemble (including Stan’s protégé, Eden Teichman). This play is one-for-all and all-for-one. “Fiddler On The Roof” lovers will love this; new-comers will come to this; spread-out families will gather for this; world class jet-setters will settle down for this; and Condé Nast Traveler’s readers who picked Charleston #1 in US – they should read this review). Right? Of course right.

– Nov 7-10 The 4th AnnualHoly City Blues Dance XCHG Festival. Four days -and- nights of the coolest high art blues dancing that Charleston hasn’t seen since the golden age of jazz & blues. Nine Dances with Live Bands & DJs from around the US (and great local ones, too). This throwback to nostalgic blues brings great dancers from across the region, the east coast, some nationally, and of course our great Charleston dancers. The venues rotate each dance around historic downtown Charleston. Join the Facebook Events and invite your coolest friends!

– Nov 13 Wild Women Party – whoa – Annual Benefit for women’s critical services for abused children and their families at The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center (DNLCC). Hair styling by Article 5; makeup makeovers by Pink Dot; fashion by Hampden Clothing; and Wine & Food by Charleston Grill’s Michelle Weaver. At The Spa at Charleston Place. $100 tickets. REVIEW: “Fashionistas Benefit DNLCC:” The Spa at Charleston Place provided an elegant setting, libations, and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres for the Wild Women Blue Party fundraiser for The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center (DNLCC). It was an event not to be missed! Beautiful, savvy, empathetic women, dressed in cobalt blue, toasted Veuve Cliqot Champagne (ooh la la), socialized, and donated their dollars for a well deserved non-profit, like DNLCC. A captivated audience learned the severity of child abuse, not only here in Charleston, but world wide. Elizabeth Cole, DNLCC’s Development Associate, perfected their message, “DNLCC provides assessment, treatment, and support services for children and their families where there is a concern of abuse. The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center’s mission is to keep children safe from abuse, and when abuse occurs, to work with our community to bring healing to these children and their families. It costs approximately $1,400 to provide services for one child at DNLCC.” The soirée continued on a lighthearted theme with a fashion show drawing the audiences attention to wonderful clothes, current hair trends, and secrets to applying make up. Again, special thanks to all the outstanding organizers for attracting all the fashionistas for the well needed Benefit for DNLCC. Everyone, don’t miss any upcoming events for DNLCC! <– Review by DoTheCharleston.com Guest Writers, Wendy Wilson & Erin McCarrick (Editor’s Note: We attracted Wendy and Erin from Rochester, NY, to come party with a purpose with us, and to write with us, so DoTheCharleston.com can attract more birds of a feather to flock together in Charleston, Rochester, and around the world. Success!)

– Nov 15, 7-11pm, Meminger Auditorium, 2013 Giving Back Awards: Charitable Organizations and individuals are celebrated for their above & beyond leadership & giving in 2013. Spotlighting their exciting achievements with awards – we get to see the gleam in their eyes & the sparks that ignited their inspiring stories and Tikkun Olam!. The audience always gets tears in their eyes – tears of joy – as they watch and vote/text to pick the Nonprofit of the Year. Live Music, Dancing, Open bar, Cru Catering. Presented by TD Bank, and produced by Charleston Magazine with the Coastal Community Foundation. Tickets $75ea or 2 for $130; VIP $95ea or 2 for $160.

– If you’ve read this far, you’re pretty smart, motivated, innovative, clever, openminded, out of the box, and thirsty to collaborate on all of the above. Quick to share on your Facebook, and bring some friends to join us (from Charleston, Rochester, and you know, from around the world). You’re part of our week, in our fold, all for one, and one for all. You as a person are a real mensch. Congratulations, Bravo, Mazol Tov, and Tikkun Olam.

– Nov 16, 4 – 11pm, Jail Break. Avant-garde local world class artists that can’t be describe in words – a cornucopia of food and a feast for the eyes & ears – live music, dancers, painters, artisans, theater, comedy…Oh there’s more, and it’s cool, way cool, at the Old City Jail, home of ACBA (American College of the Building Arts). Presented by Entropy Arts, ACBA, and Ear For Music. Tickets $15-20.

– Nov 19, 2-6pm, Perfect Pitch at the American Theater . Five finalists will pitch their innovations to “experts businessmen” with the Presenting Sponsor SCRA. They pick the two best finalists, sponsor them with $2500 and extra free consulting. Angel Investors (will also be in audience). Finalists are maybe social entrepreneurs. Angel Investors are, well, angels. They are godsends sent to help (invest) in mere mortals on earth. Creatives are, well, creative. Creatives are mere mortals, but they live up in the clouds. Both are passionate & hopeful to find common ground. A creative wants to feed a deal to an angel. Angels are definitely hungry, but unsure if they’ll like the taste of the creative’s deal. Both are open minded because, well, they both want to pick each other’s brains. Both have high-risk & high-return excitement, and the courage to go where no man/women has gone before. To seek out new ventures… You can go along on their journey. All the creatives could hit it big now or later with angels. And anyone who falls on their face at least is intelligent and mature enough to learn from any mistakes.

– Nov 20 at 6pm, Distinguished Lecture Series by the Gibbs Museum with outstanding guest of honor Leonard Lauder of the Estée Lauder haute couture, you know Crème de la Mar (how about some swag!). Seriously, this will be the classiest lecture by a world leading benefactor of thearts! Oh, he gave his incredible collection of Picasso and Braque paintings and more to the Whitney Museum of American, beyond incredible. That’s where he has been the Chairman of the BOD, and a steadfast anchor. Well, its SOLD OUT, it’s at Memminger Auditorium. READ REVIEW!

– Nov 23, 8-midnite, The Alley’s 1st Anniversary Party “Studio300.” The wildest first hand history lesson in Disco Fever. Hmm, you came to Charleston because it’s living history, right? Come live the clubbing, posing, dancing, a premium open bar, and…well, bowling. Featuring flashy performances, DJ Nate NattyHeavy Lopes, and disco balls (and balls of fire maybe?). You’re strongly encouraged to dress in the stylish 70’s (expect more than a few Hams – their wish has finally come true – disco is coming back – oye, punch to the gut). Benefit for Be A Mentor (BAM) non-profit. Tweet @TheAlleyChas & #Studio300. Follow their Facebook. Address & Tickets at Links above.

– Mar 17 – 4th Annual Water Ball benefiting theCharleston Waterkeeper. Black Tie optional, jet setters, trend setters, fashion designers, philanthropists, all eat, drink, and be merry for our right to clean water. Another whale of a party in Charleston. The world is one big bath tub – so the clean water we get together to protect here affects all our brothers (and fish) around the world. Here’s to you, L’Chaim and Tikkun Olam! Party at the Aquarium, 7-11.

– Apr 5 – 27“The Liar” Check times/tickets at The Woolfe Street PlayhouseREVIEW: “The Liar” – We like your spiel! You know Charleston’s called the Paris of the United States. Répéter (repeat) and répéter (rehearse). Lucky for us, practice makes perfect at our new neighborhood cabaret at The Woolfe St Playhouse off King St. “The Liar” takes us to 17th century Paris without having to take a time machine – no lie – they come to Charleston. The chateau is majestic, the costumes are chichi, and the hair styles are wiggy (credit all the crew). Now then, we got the liar, and there’s also the joker, the posers, the prude, the wench, Fifi, and oh brother where art thou. The dastardly duels start with seeeex, lies, & video tape, strike that, just lies, lots of lies; then kfetching; then the famous bend & snap snap snap; saber rattling; sword fighting; and you’ll have to go find out the rest. Of course, there’s plenty of damsels with nice tieee eyes. Also, there’s gallantry, chivalry, poetry, jocularity, and a nod to the hood and outer space. Wise of you to read this far – the best parts are the actors’ witty repertoire (iambic pentameter), prancing, & bromancing: “what verbal diarrhea, oh I got an idea…want a squeeze? Wouldn’t mind one, where do I find one…Isabelle, visible, miserable…my feelings are profounder, I’d rather wed a flounder…une zo on…like my spiel?” Lordy, there’s even yiddish. The best is the big faaa the big liar (read his bio), shirley you jest, no not Shirley (Robbie Thomas). The jester (Young Stowe) is a spunky bundle of joy. Be on the lookout for Matthias Burrell, he takes a walk on the wild side. Cristy Landis directs all the gaiety and the rest of the actors share in the love, too (Laurens Wilson, Charley Boyd, McKenna Dubose, Haydn Haring, and Kurt Sauer). Also, read Cristy’s playbill notes on the writer, David Ives, and the adaptation from the comedy by Pierre Corneille.

– Apr 22, Happy Earth Day 2013– 1 Billion People around the world come together to make an impact now and further the action started by the first Earth Day in 1970 (when 20 million Americans began modern environmentalism).

– April 24 – 28, 2013 Charleston International Film Festival – Click for REVIEW: “Score! Around the world in 5 days at CIFF!” …films were more than intriguing…Chris Brigham is in the Holy City. He worked on “Argo”(Academy Award Winner); and Shutter Island (with actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Ruby Jerins :)…more than just Film (back from the underworld, we joined with Charlie Chaplin to Do The Charleston…

– Apr 25, 26, 27 Holy City Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” – traditional, yet adapted and contemporary. Gage Hall at 4 Archdale. REVIEW“Hamlet, can’t stop talking about Hamlet:” Craig Trow was more than the leading role and Prince of Denmark, he owned the Theater. He commanded everyone’s attention. He lit-up the stage without needing a spotlight. He was even brilliant while dark & brooding. He was on fire and his flames engulfed his fellow actors and fired them up. Then their spitfire witty lines shot out and Hamlet shot back twice as fast. The best part is the audience gets to go toe to toe with Hamlet. But don’t tip toe over – run down to see Hamlet’s last shows.

– Apr 27, at 7pm,Preservation Society of Charleston 3rd Annual Galato benefit their SEVEN TO SAVE FUND (raise awareness & financial support for preservation in Charleston & the region).Expect the same as last year’s Gala (we “attracted” some newbies and converted them into “passionate” preservation enthusiasts):

– Feb 22 – Mar 16“The Whipping Man” Check theater times/dates/tickets at The Woolfe Street PlayhouseREVIEW: “The Whipping Man” Shines The Light: Everyone knows, you gots to have a good story. Writer Matthew Lopez gots a good one. This is a southern Jewish story, at the end of The Civil War. Deep drama, agonizing angst, longing & love, and more, oye vey, is there more. Lo, it isn’t the Ten Commandments, but there are three commanding actors (four, if you count The Almighty, who definitely has a role in all this, but probably doesn’t rehearse). Three good Jewish boys… well… two are former slaves… did I mention this gots a great story. They read a Hebrew Haggadah, break matzoh, break down, lift up, sing praises, pass down traditions, and slip-in comic relief (“Baruch Hashem for this stolen food & wine & brick, not too kosher”). They wrestle with The Almighty, ask questions, and cry-out for answers. Cue The Almighty… pause… crickets chirping… perfect timing, of course. That’s why Producers are expected to perform miracles… they delivered more than The Light… they reconstructed and deconstructed a grand gadol antebellum set. What a play – you see it, you feel it, you stand up and applaud it, and you gots to smooze and tell everyone about it. You wake at 7am, haunted by the gripping cries to hold on, the cutting cries to let go, to be saved, to be freed, to be family. I couldn’t get back to sleep, I couldn’t wait to write about it. Michael Burgess (Simon) and Andre Hinds (John) pounded out powerful performances. Young Stowe (Caleb) hung in an incredible trance. Keely Enright directed a firestorm of fury and parted a sea of subtleties. (It made me think of “East of Eden.” Oooh, love to see Enright produce that at Woolfe Street, and see Stowe tackle a James Dean role). Gots to do more smoozing, fundraising, and finish this Sedar first (“and if there’s money left over, buy a chair”). Reserve “Whipping Man” tickets early, G-d willing, there’s 2 more weeks in Charleston. Then, next year in Jerusalem, Amen.

– Feb 14 Rise Up & Dance “1 Billion Rising” in Charleston and The World: Dancing is powerful without being violent. When you dance you take up space and expand your horizons and sense of self and value. Dancing is a direct path to the truth. It’s holy, sexy, and can’t be controlled by corporations. It’s free, contagious, dangerous, and done together as a community. It has the capacity to turn pain into power. When one billion women and men dance on the planet, we will shake humanity into a new consciousness.

– Jan 17 – Feb 10 “The Exact Center of the Universe”REVIEW: “Love southern airs, jousting barbs, and church gossip? Love to peer past the pretty surface, and pry into the petty nitty gritty? Love to giggle at cheeky southern tea parties gone awry with confrontation, comebacks, and mortification…until someone cries “Uncle?” Touché, touché, you’ll love this play. Especially theater lovers who always study and find lessons in the dramatic arts. Enthusiasts will love the up close and personal setting at the Threshold Repertory Theater. The well cast actors exude subtle nuances as their characters walk on egg shells and act like, “no sweat.” The director, Lon Bumgarner, flips the drama back & forth, to & fro, and softly lands everything over easy without breaking the delicacy. Like frail lace and fine embroidery, these fancy socialites unravel their veiled power plays, then drop their doilies, and bite their lipstick lips. From the entree, Robin Burke (Apple) practically puts his arm around you, gathers your trust, and welcomes you into his living room in the deep south. The range of Pamela Galle (Vada) is remarkable as she ripens and wilts through an expansive role. Christina Liedel (Mary Lou & Mary Ann) juggles juxtaposed jokes & jabs. Annette Gill (Enid) and Dana DeMartino (Marybell) are especially endearing, and as smooth & silky as butter. The whole show is ripe – ripe for the picking – get your $10 tickets here for the last shows.

– Jan 25 – Feb 3 “Little Shop of Horrors”REVIEW: This is a finger-snapping cult-classic that’s always fresh. It is a quintessential off-broadway rip roaring musical. What If? Productions picked and presented a winner: blending an outrageous, sock-it-to-me-baby, in-your-face, surprise spank on the big behind — behind the big Upper King Street marquee at The American Theater. Thank you to the sponsors, Charles & Celeste Patrick, who tossed an alley-oop and director Kyle Barnette made a slam dunk. The live music, directed by pianist & band leader Justin Wham, was fun and paramount to the ambiance, drumming up acoustical textures and electricity in the air. Brian Porter (Seymour) led the cast and sang and joked so easily. He was happy go lucky, walking in the park, kicking-up heels, sweet yet sassy, whistling dixie. Mary Fishburne stood out with a voice that takes you to a higher level. The Three Da-Doo-Wop Girls stole the show (Becca Anderson, Joyel Crawford, Beth Curley). They were a force, a mix of colors, skid-row-chic, belting boop-ba-loops. The choreographers (Kyle Barnette & Stephanie Burg) pointed their pointers, postures, and posteriors, as they crooned and cruised the stoops, stages, and audiences up, down, & all around. For sure, with the scale up that is inevitable – What If and The American Theater are building up for more to come.

copyright 2013 What If? Productions

– Jan 17-Feb 2 “The Divine Sister” presented by The Village Repertory Company at their new Woolfe Street Playhouse. REVIEW: Welcome to downtown Charleston. This was a roller coaster ride – holding on, while the nuns dared to let go, stick their hands in the air, and take the plunge. Risky, as well as risqué. Oh boy, oh brother, what a society of sisters, what a company of characters. They cackled, haggled, yacked, and hacked. They bent over backwards, as the audience doubled over with yuck yucks. There was gaiety, revelry, revelations, and revolutions. Casting was doubly great; actors nailed their parts (and tried to nail each other); and the director, Keely Enright, pried them apart triumphantly. They jumped and jived and raised the bar, then tested the waters in the gutter. Oye vey, what a vocal voyage, from German, to Irish, to Yiddish, to New Yorker. Even the falsetto sang and twanged guitar. Every accent was dripping, embellished, and re-hashed rapid-fire. Especially, when they wanted you to mishear, “Tell me what, you can’t face.” The script, by Charles Busch, inspired body language, facial contortions, and cute costumes (A nun wrestling coach? You have to see it to believe it). One weekend left to see the mugs on these nuns, as they unfold, unveil, disrobe, and unearth an uncanny host of hosts.